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Biomedical subjects

L Calliauw

Publications and source records attributed to L Calliauw.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Spinal cord stimulation in chronic pain: evaluation of results, complications, and technical considerations in sixty-nine patients.

Sixty-nine patients undergoing spinal cord stimulation (SCS) were studied for a period of up to 8 years. Indications, implantation techniques, and stimulation systems are presented in this article. Pain-suppressor effects of SCS are reviewed, assessing the clinical efficacy over time as well as complications with the stimulation device. Immediately following implantation, inadequate pain relief was noted in 20% of the patients. Decrease of the efficacy of pain alleviation occurs during the first 3 years after implantation. Most failures are noted in patients presenting with failed back surgery. This study also demonstrates that SCS systems should offer the capability of both monopolar and bipolar stimulation modes by the use of multipolar electrodes.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1990

On the management of neonatal tentorial damage. Eight case reports and a review of the literature.

From the history of 15 personal patients--8 reported here in extenso--and from 63 patients in the literature with the diagnosis of posterior fossa subdural haemorrhage during life, we discuss the possibility of detecting tentorial damage on computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US) scan. The association of a (peri)cerebellar haemorrhage with peritentorial bleeding around the straight sinus and a subdural haemorrhage between both occipital cerebral lobes is suggestive of tentorial laceration(s). Both coronal CT scan and sagittal US scan are very helpful in locating these haemorrhages near the falco-tentorial junction. The conservative management of one of our infants with very extensive but asymmetric posterior fossa haemorrhage, leading to resorptive hydrocephalus, is compared with both surgical and conservative treatment of patients from the literature. Two reasons that warrant neurosurgical intervention are: life-threatening brain-stem compression--as in one of our own patients--and acute obstructive hydrocephalus. Craniotomy of the posterior fossa within the neonatal period does not prevent later-onset resorptive hydrocephalus. The communicating nature of this latter process is adequately demonstrated by lumbar isotope cisternography. Finally, neonatal posterior fossa subdural haemorrhage is one of the many causes of cyst-like structures behind the cerebellum.

Arteries↗
PubMed1990

Spinal cord stimulation in chronic pain therapy.

Spinal cord stimulation was undertaken in 45 patients referred to the University Hospital in Ghent. Failed back surgery was the major indication for implantation. Raynaud's phenomenon, causalgia, polyneuropathy, phantom limb pain, and diverse causes were the other indications. Before neurosurgical implantation of the system, a percutaneous epidural trial procedure was performed. The efficacy of the implanted stimulation system was estimated by considering the use of medication and the patients' personal appreciation of the obtained pain relief. Thirty-five patients experienced very good pain relief. Only two patients needed further narcotic analgesics. Eight patients stopped using the stimulation system. To ensure good results, strict selection criteria and many surgical reinterventions seemed to be necessary. Although spinal cord stimulation is a nonablative technique, many complications may occur.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1990

Invasion of human brain tumors in vitro: relationship to clinical evolution.

Embryonic chick heart fragments were confronted in vitro with cells from 26 freshly resected human brain tumors. The tumor-derived cells were scored according to their survival and invasiveness. Four different responses were observed: disintegration of the tumor-derived cells (Type I); survival of cells without progressive engulfing or invasion of the heart fragment (Type II); initial encircling of the heart fragment followed by invasion (Type III); and massive invasion on initial contact (Type IV). Pattern Type III or IV was seen in 11 of 14 preparations derived from malignant tumors, and pattern Type I or II was seen in seven of 10 preparations derived from benign tumors. These results suggested that "classical malignancy," based upon the histological classification and the degree of spread in vivo, correlated with invasiveness in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Brain death.

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Brain Death↗
PubMed1989

Traumatic lumbosacral nerve root meningoceles. The value of myelography, CT and MRI in the assessment of nerve root continuity.

A case of traumatic lumbar meningoceles at four levels in combination with total and partial nerve root avulsion and with preservation of a nerve root is reported. Several diagnostic imaging techniques (myelography, CT, myelo-CT and MRI) are compared and their value in demonstrating the continuity of the nerve roots is discussed. MRI could assess the continuity of a nerve root in a traumatic meningocele, not demonstrable by myelography or myelo-CT. The combination of myelography, myelo-CT and MRI is likely to provide a complete diagnostic evaluation of nerve root lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Diagnosis of brain death. Transcranial Doppler sonography as an additional method.

Ever since transplant surgery became a common procedure, the early diagnosis of irreversible cessation of cerebral function has become an important need. We made a comparative study of EEG, angiography and transcranial Doppler imaging in patients who fulfilled the clinical criteria for brain death. The imaging was performed with a 2 MHz pulsed Doppler system with a unique transcranial probe (EME, type TC2-64 B). Intracranial reverberating flow patterns with counterbalancing forward and backward components of the blood column indicate flow arrest. Transcranial Doppler Sonography was found to be a practical, non invasive, early and reliable method for the diagnosis of arrest of the cerebral circulation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Spinal epidural hematoma without lesion of the spine. Report of 4 cases.

The authors report 4 cases of spinal epidural hematoma without a lesion of the spine. The medical literature relating to this subject is reviewed with special reference to the pathophysiology of the bleeding. There are arguments in favor of the venous origin as well the arterial origin of the bleeding. As far as recovery following surgical treatment is concerned, the history of our cases confirms the opinion that the prognosis depends on two factors: the delay between onset of symptoms and operation and the severity of the neurological deficit.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

The position of the patient during neurosurgical procedures on the posterior fossa.

Different parameters were measured on patients in six different positions during infratentorial surgery. One group of data served to prove that such patients were in a steady-state as far as their cardiovascular and ventilatory function was concerned. The other measured parameters concerned the intracranial pressure, the intracranial venous pressure and the cerebral perfusion pressure. It appeared from the comparison of these data, that the lateral sitting (45 degrees) position had important advantages and that in this position the possibility of unfavourable features (such as air-embolism) was minimized.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1987

Cerebrospinal fluid oedema: a rare complication of the ventriculo-subgaleal shunt.

The ventriculo-subgaleal shunt is a useful technique for obtaining a temporary decompression of the ventricles in patients with obstructive hydrocephalus. A direct surgical approach to remove the obstruction can restore the CSF circulation. When the shunt tube is left behind after restoration of the CSF dynamics, an extensive CSF oedema can develop in the white matter along the drain, resulting in a severe clinical syndrome. A possible mechanism is discussed. Quick and adequate treatment proved that the cerebral damage is reversible.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The future of chemotherapy in malignant brain tumors.

Malignant brain tumors respond poorly to chemotherapy. This therapeutic resistance is the result of the marked heterogeneity of malignant gliomas in vivo and in vitro. Different factors, as specific markers, DNA distribution curves, morphology, chromosomal constitution, invasiveness and growth characteristics are considered for the understanding of the biology of malignant brain tumors. A better knowledge of this biology should provide new chemotherapeutic strategies.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1985

Aneurysmal bone cysts in the cranial vault and base of skull.

Three cases of aneurysmal bone cyst of the skull are reported. The localization in the base of the skull (two cases) is extremely rare and simulates a space-occupying intracerebral lesion. The clinical and microscopic findings, and their significance for the differential diagnosis from malignant brain tumors, are described.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The influence of AZQ on the DNA distribution of human cerebral tumours in short-term culture.

The influence of AZQ, a chemotherapeutic agent, on the DNA-distribution of human cerebral tumours in short-term culture was studied by means of a MPV II cytofluorometer. The cell cultures were exposed to increasing concentrations of AZQ during 5 days. The results showed that AZQ has no cell phase-specific activity. The influence on the DNA-distribution varied considerably in the examined tumours. It is hypothesised that the effect of AZQ might depend upon the initial DNA-distribution of human cerebral tumours, hyperdiploid tumours being more vulnerable.

Aziridines↗